In Earth terminology, field rank referred collectively to the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel in the army or marines, and also brigadier in applicable armies; field commissions were given to enlisted soldiers to make them commissioned officers. Field colonels wore a gold Bajoran insignia with one hemisphere colored black as a rank insignia.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia, second edition, proposes that the ranks below major were captain, lieutenant, lieutenant junior grade, and ensign. This system presents variant pins that never appeared on set and quizzically mixes the army ranks with navy terminology – lieutenant junior grade and ensign, which were never used or referred to during the series.